Replacement Seat Belts...L81

[kiwi vet]

Hey All

I am DESPERATELY trying to find replacement seat belts for my L81 vette. :W
Ideally would be tan to match, but would look at anything at present.

I am looking for the whole system from retractors (left & right) belts and lower fixings (to keep electrical warnings intact). Some "WALLY" (no not me.......this time) jammed both the belts in the doors and now they have holes, so non compliant.

No one here will re-web them, so only alternative is to replace!

Does ANYONE know of a supplier?

Any assistance GREATLY, GREATLY APPRECIATED, with extra sugar, or what ever you want! At the moment I cant drive it!!!!!! - GETTING WITHDRAWL SYMPTOMS ALREADY!!!!!.

 

[paintdaddy]

Do a search for snakeoyl ,they will reweb but I will warn you its not cheap.They also sell aftermarket belts that look nice but dont have electrical hook ups

 

[kiwi vet]

Thanks Paintdaddy,

I'll certainly have a look, although would prefer new if I'm importing from US.
To send old ones to US, then import back is going to be $$$$$$$.
Had found a vette parts importer here, who will do this for the modest sum of $ 740.00....ouch! Hence the plea!

Have tonight found a company on the net over there called, Andover Restraints Inc, has anyone bought or dealt with this particular company?
Or has anyone heard anything?

They claim exact replacements, in black for 1978-82 C3's. They do have some colours on a give us a call thing, so Ive posted through to them to see if they can do it in Camel. If not black will do @ $160 US a full car set ($ 300 by the time they get here with exchange rate, freight & import taxes).

Anyone with any other thoughts, please chime in.



PS: Tried to search snakeoyl, only got info on that other american sports car(viper) and threads about belts but no leads, anyone know a link?

 

[paintdaddy]

Heres snakeoyles link http://www.ssnake-oyl.com/Ssnake-Oyl_Seat_Belt_Showroom20.html The price you got for 740 is about right.I had talked to snakeoyle about the price before and he said it was so high due to the liability.If the seat belt fails in a crash there would be big lawsuits involved,its understanable,expensive but understanable.

 

[kiwi vet]

Thanks Paintdaddy
I think thats the reason they wont re-web here, worried about liability.
Although they will re-web English & Aussie belts?????? just not US ones?
Andover came back with 1 set only left of doeskin belts for $525 US plus freight,tax,and exchange rate thats about $950.00 landed, still out of my ball park.
Oh well, I think I will have to stick with the black ones, on the positive, have found that you can dye them here if desired, so I think this is the logical choice.
Thanks again for your help on this, much appreciated.

 

[lnirenberg]

I went to the GM parts site just to see if they had NOS belts. I emailed them when I couldn't find belts listed but haven't heard back. I modified my car to take 3 point belts which I assume the later sharks had. Someone on this site used late model Camaro rears and they are available through Chevy dealers in the US as I checked this out when I was in the market. There are also aftermarket sites that are much cheaper than you described and this is the route I took. Having no idea what the OEM belts are like your car and whether these sources are a possibility but what the heck try these 2 sites:

http://www.andoauto.com/seat_belts.htm

http://store.yahoo.net/wescoperformance/seatbelts.html

My opinion re dying black belts, lotsa luck and make sure you don't sweat too much.

 

[dk1977]

I bought a set of tan belts in tan color. I converted a '77 coupe from a dual retractor (one under the seat and one in the rear) to the more current single retractor (in the rear) and a fixed point under the seat. The buckle slides along the belt and fastens (across your lap) to the fixed buckle on the tunnel. Works great!
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/wescoperformance/nonresebe.html

 

[kiwi vet]

Hi Guys & Gals

Thanks for the further responces to date.
Things are going to poo at this end. I have been locked into discussions with the LTSA (Land transport & Service Authority, the national government body) all day (thank god Im self employed, or would be fired for slacking), and the news isnt great.
Rules state:

"No one/person or body can alter a manufacturers seat belt system, except the manufactirer, with documentation to support any alteration performed". This includes re-webbing!. As GM doesnt do this or have replacements - up poo creek.

"No alternative seat belt system can be used without express permission from the manufacturer" (fat chance from GM USA) or "If this is not avalible, an engineer must certify the system ($1200 consultancy fee) and provide documentation to support this for review" (so not conclusive, even if you spend the coin). plus the cost of the new belts! - partly up poo creek.

"All seat belts must be double acting" (which vette belts arent, only single acting) or "If the vehicle is over 20 years old the original belts can be approved if there is no upgrade avalible" Yes.... sort of a break...... hang on!, the webbing is stuffed..... so non compliant again...aaarrrggghhh!!!!! definately up poo creek.

Looks like the options are getting very thin on the ground in this end of the world. (How easy is it to get a green card? )

The only option is to try to find a second hand set in excellent condition in Camel/Tan or Doeskin (so they look original) and claim they are original. Not to much of a lie, I could lay straight in bed with that one. The poo is clearing.

Or to illegally re-web them, if I can find someone to do it (no luck here so far, theyre all to scared, but rightly so) and risk the vehicle being caught at a WOF (Warrant of Fitness) inspection, which has to happen here every 6 months to be registered for road use. Then if that happens, right back to square one, with a fine also!. Potentiall of being right up poo creek.

So ........anyone have a really mint set of Camel, Doeskin or Tan L81 Seat Belts?????? they want to sell??????

It looks honestly like the only option, as all the replacement ones I can find also contravene another rule that states that "No seat belt replacement shall remove any other safety system in the original car" and this includes the seat belt warning light or buzzer/alarm!!!!!! The ones Ive seen dont have any electrical connections?

Open to suggestions..... already thought about pulling the trigger, but makes a mess on the carpet, and the wife would go spare

 

[Copdogcorvettes]

Have you checked on Ebay for the seat belts? Also Corvette Central has replacement seat belts for the C3's.

If you don't find the belts at one of the above I can do some checking with a couple of the corvette shop around about finding a set.

You also asked about the rear bumber I have; It would be no problem to ship, just not sure about what the cost would be. Just a guess, at least $100- $150.

Good luck and let me know if I can do anything else to help.

Gary

 

[kiwi vet]

Hey Copdogcorvettes (Gary)

Thanks for the tip and offer.
I had been to Corvette Central, & Ecklers, & Davies, & Arts, & Tracey's, & Corvette America and Mid Motorworks, and they all seem to only have listings for Lap belts. :confused

In this case, I (unfortunately) need the OEM Lap & Shoulder Belts as originally delivered. This seems the only way around this typically bureaucratic law.
You would think that if other belts can be re-webbed here, why not US ones?
After all they would only have to certify/ guarantee the web and stitching!

I have listed a wanted ad in the C3 parts sale/wanted area of this site, with the part numbers etc of the original belts I have here (hopefully they are all the same).
I really appreciate your offer to keep an ear to the ground, this would help a lot, as Im hitting block walls on all sides here!.

Secondly, yes Im interested in that 6" rear bumper you mentioned, any chance of photo? and what do you want for it? Just drop me an email, and we can work through the details.

Thanks again for the support out there, both to you and the others who have contributed.
You know sometimes it feels like we live at the bottom of the World.........Oh Bugger!....We DO!!!!!


Grant

 

[lnirenberg]

Try these links as they had NOS, repro or used seatbelt parts for my 71 coupe:

cshuhi@vettepartsonline.com

cars2nv@ee.net

http://www.corvetteusa.com/

CorvRecyclers@aol.com used belts

keith@corvelautomotive.com

www.elmersauto.com

If you feel like hitting your head against a brick wall I also got this contact from Mr Goodwrench himself:

GM Goodwrench
Order Processing Group
25140 Lahser Road
Suite 282
Southfield, MI
48034-6300
(248) 352-0140 - phone
(248) 352-0772 - fax
Email Contact: webmaster@opgllc.com


more to the point, you have absolutely blown my preconceived notion of Australian males as a British Commonwealth equivilent of what we call over here good ole boys--suckin down pints, telling bawdy jokes, pounding each other on the back and generally living on the edge of the law--must be one Crocidile Dundie movie too many. Next thing you know you'll be telling me you don't take the labels off mattresses for fear of prosecution!

Additionally, maybe also cultural ignorance, but I have trouble imagining an hourly stiff who is paid to check your car out bi-annually would know an OEM vs replacement seatbelt in an 81 Vette if it bit him on the ass. Good luck, I for one would flaunt the law and probably already have.

 

[kiwi vet]

Hey lnirenberg

Thanks for the links, I'll give themk a try.

Now for the Geography Lesson -

Hate to correct you, but Australian males.........tend to live in Australia, which is a completely different country to New Zealand!
To put it in perspective, its like calling an American, a Canadian and vice versa (and we all know how well that goes down!!) and our countries aren't even joined.

Although some Kiwi's (New Zealanders) do refer to Australia as the West Island!!!, (have a look on a world map and you'll get the joke).

Your right though - "Crocodile Dundee"............. is Australian.

As far as the WOF guys go, they are usually either well qualified mechanics or consulting engineers, and they have access to very detailed information. On the factory seat belts is a referance number that they can trace, and they do. Remember all cars here are imported, so they are used to checking things. Also you must understand, the vette, being LHD here is rare, therefore the car creates interest because it is different, and sometimes not always good interest. :eyerole

In fairness to the WOF Guys, they are not the enemy, they only enforce the rules that they are given. But they are legally bound to uphold the regulations, and can be fined heavily if they dont.

Anyway enough of the waffle, Thanks agin for the links, I'm sure we will beat this one way or the other!!!

 

[lnirenberg]

Oops, mea culpa. I am not generally a geography moron, but my brain tends to shut down after 5 pm and if that isn't a good excuse well, the dog ate my homework (pulled that one out of the dustbin). I have no idea why I thought you were from Australia, but at least I got the right hemisphere...I think. On the bright side I hope one of the links is a help

 

[kiwi vet]

Hey lnirenberg
Dont sweat it, if fact I was laughing so hard after reading it, it was hard to type an answer!
Again thanks for the links, have sent out the word to them, so will let you know how they turn out.